As crowds gathered and hushed, the lobby of Kellogg Community College’s Student Center echoed with the sound of drums from Kalamazoo-based performance troupe Rootead on Thursday.

Dancers and drummers from the organization’s youth dance troupe took viewers through performances highlighting each of the four elements— air, fire, water and earth. 

Rootead is a Kalamazoo-based organization celebrating African arts and culture. The group performs throughout the greater Kalamazoo area, highlighted by their annual Juneteenth festivities. The youth drum and dance troupe features performers spanning from elementary through high school aged students.

The performances were part of KCC’s ongoing programming celebrating Black History Month. Upcoming events include the Soul Food Luncheon and a market highlighting Black owned businesses. Admission for the luncheon can be purchased on the day of the event at $5 for students and $10 for the general public.

This article was originally featured in the Battle Creek Enquirer, view the full article here.